Several people, including police officers, were killed and wounded in attacks on two police headquarters in Vietnam’s Central Highlands on Sunday, authorities said.
The Ministry of Public Security said police have arrested six suspects and is conducting a search for more individuals connected to the attacks.
In a statement on its website, the ministry said a group of individuals used firearms to attack the police stations in the villages of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur, located in the Cu Kuin district of Dak Lak province.
Although the ministry confirmed casualties among police officers and civilians, it did not provide specific numbers.
Following the incident, the ministry advised residents to remain calm and follow the instructions of the authorities.
This type of attack is rare in Vietnam, where firearm possession is prohibited and access to the black market is difficult.
The mountainous regions in the center of the country, where the incident occurred, have been known for decades as one of the most conflict-ridden areas in Vietnam.
This region, which is home to various ethnic minorities, is considered sensitive by Vietnam’s communist government. Disputes, including those related to land rights, have been prevalent.
During Vietnam’s decades-long war, a conglomerate of tribes in the area, known as Montagnards, supported the US-backed south.
Their demands include greater autonomy or independence for the region.
In April, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that local members of the Ede minority in the same district where the recent attack took place were violently suppressed by the police.
The Ede minority group opposed a water drainage project, fearing it would contaminate the lake on which their livelihood depends.
Source : La Prensa Latina
